Run 13.8 volts to the back of both, and measure the power into a dummy load.

Run 12V into the back of both and measure the power into a dummy load. 12V is where you'll be at with the engine turned off. You'll get 75W out of the Icom 7000, don't know about the FT857. You'll get 100W from the Kenwood TS480.

Icom has a 75 watt, 2 meter transceiver. The spec say 75 watts out, with 13.8 volts in. Well, it will indeed putout 75 watts, if the power to the radio, at the radio, is 13.8. However, the drop through the power cord drop the real output to about 72 or so. Shut the engine off, the battery voltage will drop to about 12.2, and the output is barely 30 watts. Are they lying?

The 857 I owned, wouldn't do but 15 watts on 70 cm, even with the voltage at 14. On 2, about 30 watts. The 7000 I own now, does exactly 35 watts on 70 cm, and 54 watts on 2 meter. There are dead carrier measurements, into a dummy load, and measured with a Bird 43.

The IC-7000 does not have 75 watts of output on 2 meters. There are radios that are rated for that but not the 7000. My FT857d shows 103 watts on every HF band, 99 watts on 6m, 51 on 2m, and 23 watts on UHF. These reading were tested on my Motorola service monitor and double checked on Telewave 44A. My rig is 6 years old and has never had any kind of failure. I have seen two 7000's locally go back to Icom 5 times respectively. But their owners still like the radio's.

. Nothing was mentioned about the 7000 outputting 75 watts on 2 meters.

As for service...

I purchased an unused, still in the box, FT857D from an estate. It wouldn't even light up. It was still under warranty, and much to my surprise, Yaesu replaced it with a brand new radio. The reason for purchasing the radio was to test the functionality of an automatic HF screwdriver antenna controller. The radio was never used for VHF or UHF use. When it was sold to the next user, the VHF/UHF section did not work. Still under warranty, Yaesu fixed it. It promptly failed, and was once again fixed. As far as I know, it is still working. This just proves you can't make a value judgement base someones else's experience, or your own.

That is correct Alan. I cannot make a value judgement based on my experiences or my friends and acquaintances experiences. The fact that I have owned an FT857d for 6 years means nothing. The fact that one of my friends IC7000 has been to Icom three times is irrelevant for the same problem (RF output drivers). In fact, Icom even shipped his rig back the last time with an extra set of parts. Why would they do that? Probably because it WILL happen again. My other friend, who had his radio repaired twice by Icom...guess what same problem and he got extra parts also. So if all of this means nothing then I suppose it in no way influenced them to look at Kenwood and Yaesu to replace their 7000's as a primary HF radio.

Funny things can happen to any product, especially ones as volatile as electronics, and that includes amateur gear.

I have an Icom 2KL I purchased new in 1979. You can still buy finals for it, although they are a bit pricy. During this time period, Eimac has quit making several very popular power tubes, and there are no more US manufacturers of glass tubes, except for some specialty items. You can't find any germanium power transistors, yet at one time just about every mobile radio used G50s in their high voltage inverters. Generic 2N2222 are still listed, but they're really 2N3904s. It just proves that everything has a finite life, even us poor amateurs. The unfortunate part is, some of us die too young!

I guess this is off subject, but I like the Kenwood TS-480 mobile. I did not need VHF/UHF in the same box as HF. I ragchew, work DX, operate phone, and CW. Just a good HF rig. Runs 100 watts whether going down the highway, or stopped at a park. Has full break-in CW. The audio DSP is lacking, so I added an outboard DSP. Of course provided my own speaker on the dash of the truck. I also added a CW filter in the IF.

I usually prefer Icom, but have been pleased with the HF operation of the TS-480. Sure a far cry better than the all tube days.

Hello, I'm looking for a small'ish portable HF rig and it's come down to the FT-857 or the IC7000 I know the 7000 is twice the price ! is it really worth that much more ?? ideas please - this will be my first foray into HF TX as well !!

Dave - G6ZKC

I have owned the 706 MKIIG, the FT-897D (electrically the same as a FT-857d) and presently still own a IC-7000. The IC 7000 is easily the best performing out of the 3. Not even close...Yes it is worth more.

I operated for 2 years with the IC-706MK2G (have 2) mobile and for 3 years mobile high power (SG-500) with the Yaesu FT-857d and now despite my concerns over some minor inconveniences I saw with the IC-7000 I now own and operate the 7000 mobile high power with a Tarheel 100 A/HP. The built in filters, the transmit bandwidth adjustments, the IF filtering and several other pluses make the IC-7000 stand out above the rest. Sure I'd like to see a few changes and ultimately Icom will get it right but I do believe the IC-7000 is worth the extra money over the FT-857d and the aging 706.By the way, for $49 I picked up a Haier 7" LCD monitor on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Haier-HLT71-7-Inch-Handheld-LCD/dp/B001E78UQY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303229256&sr=8-1 and have that installed in my Honda Ridgeline so absolutely no issue in seeing all that is offered on the beautiful display.W8NYY

I really think the IC-7000 is overkill for mobile, vs the near half price FT-857. I currently own both, but use the IC-7000 as a base station. I've had several FT-857's, both original and the D, and keep coming back to the FT-857 series for mobile. For good xmt/rcv audio, the FT-857 needs the 2.3kc 10 pole filter activated in transmit as well as receive. The OBP mike mod adds a little punch, but generally get better audio reports with it turned off. All my FT-857s and my IC-7000 perform(ed) right to specs, have never had a problem with one exception. The FT-857 when used with the MH-59 remote mike can become an RF magnet and cause changes to the radio's internal menu settings. First place I'd look if low pwr out, rcv low, etc.. Both the FT-857 and IC-7000 have high SWR rollback which should be set to 1.5:1. If that's too low, you have an antenna match or tune problem. Lastly, if you're HF mobiling in urban areas, both radios better be set and forget, so you can keep your eyes on the road, goes to my comment that IC-7000, and its extra features are overkill.

I'll go out on a limb here. If the MH-59 microphone is an RF magnet as described, my best best if it isn't a broken ground connection is, there is a fair amount of common mode current flowing back to the radio.

I have owned an FT857D. I bought it from an estate, brand new in a box. Side by side with my IC-7000, there isn't much difference until conditions get bad. A real crystal or no, the 7000 is better at handling close by stations. The 7000 is also a bit better on very weak signals. The one standout, however, is its video out. Coupled with Navi screen video, it is much safer radio to operate mobile with.

I can attest to Alan's comment about the 7000 being the safer of the two to operate mobile. With the years of experience of squinting to navigate the controls and menus of the 857d and now having the 7000 with a 7 inch lcd screen for the added cost of $49 not counting the mount, it was the best investment of a mobile accessory I've ever made. Not to mention the Wow factor.

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